Desk frame

ABSTRACT

A frame for pictures and the like comprised of a transparent member and a lightweight supporting member having a much smaller total mass and weight than the transparent member. The supporting member positions and frames the transparent member on two opposite parallel sides while framing the picture inserted within the support member on all four sides so as to completely conceal the sides of the picture when the frame is fully assembled. The support member is provided with a recess along the rear surface to facilitate hanging of the frame upon a wall or other surface and is further provided with diagonally aligned support surfaces which together with the disposition of the center of gravity of the assembled frame, enables the frame to be supported diagonally relative to a support surface upon any of the diagonal aligned surfaces of the support member. In addition, the two opposite parallel sides of the support member which embrace the transparent member as well as the two exposed sides of the transparent member may be optionally employed as supporting surfaces for supporting the frame assembly in a vertically aligned fashion upon a suitable supporting surface.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Gunter Rochelt 7 Schulinstr. 1110,Ulm, Germany [21] Appl. No. 789,466 [22] Filed Jan. 7, 1969 [45]Patented May 25, 1971 [54] DESK FRAME 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 40/152.1 [51] G09f 1/12 [50] Field of Search 40/358, 10 (D),10, 152, 156, 152.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,222 3/1892 Townsend40/10D 2,145,071 l/l939 Cave 40/152X 2,521,558 9/1950 Alvarez PrimaryExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. ContrerasAttorney-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen ABSTRACT: A frame for picturesand the like comprised of a transparent member and a lightweightsupporting member having a much smaller total mass and weight than thetransparent member. The supporting member positions and frames thetransparent member on two opposite parallel sides while framing thepicture inserted within the support member on all four sides so as tocompletely conceal the sides of the picture when the frame is fullyassembled. The support member is provided with a recess along the rearsurface to facilitate hanging of the frame upon a wall or other surfaceand is further provided with diagonally aligned support surfaces whichtogether with the disposition of the center of gravity of the assembledframe, enables the frame to be supported diagonally relative to asupport surface upon any of the diagonal aligned-surfaces of the supportmember. In addition, the two opposite parallel sides of the supportmember which embrace the transparent member as well as the two exposedsides of the transparent member may be optionally employed as supportingsurfaces for supporting the frame assembly in a vertically alignedfashion upon a suitable supporting surface.

The present invention relates to picture frames and more particularly toa novel two-piece frame assembly for use in mounting pictures,photographs and the like, which has a versatility enabling the frame tobe mounted upon a vertical support surface and either vertically ordiagonally aligned and supported upon a suitable horizontal supportsurface.

There are presently available a variety of frames or frame assembliesfor mounting pictures, photographs and the like. Frames generally fallinto two categories, namely frames of the type adapted for mounting upona wall and frames adapted for being supported upon a suitable horizontalsurface such as tables, desk and the like. Conventional frames arenormally comprised of a rectangular or square-shaped frame for framingthe picture of photograph and a rigid backing member and a transparentmember. The transparent member is inserted into the frame with thepicture or photograph mounted between the backing and the transparentmember with the rigid backing affixedly secured to the frame to firmlymount the picture between the transparent member and the backing member.Additional means are usually provided on the rear of the rigid backingmember (such as, for example, a wire) for support upon a picture hook orother like wall-mounting device. I

Desk or table frames are usually similar in nature to the framesdescribed above and are further provided with a hinged support membersecured to the rear of the rigid backing member in order to support theframe assembly upon a horizontal surface normally with the orientationof the frame being in the frame being diagonal relative to the supportsurface.

In order to either insert or replace the-picture within the frame it isnecessary to remove the rigid backing member from the frame assembly,place the picture against the transparent member and then replace therigid backing member.

The present invention is characterized by providing a frame assemblyadaptable for wall mounting or surface support, and further including adesign which enables quick insertion and/or replacement of the picturewithin the frame as compared with conventional devices. The presentinvention is comprised of a solid substantially thick rectangular-shapedtransparent member and a support member for receiving the picture andembracing the transparent member. The support member is provided withtwo spaced parallel sides for embracing the transparent member and isfurther provided with a recess in the rear surface thereof to facilitatehanging of the frame upon a vertical surface. The recess is bordered bydiagonally aligned surfaces generally along the rear of the supportmember which may act as supporting surfaces for the frame assembly toenable it to be positioned upon a horizontal surface such as, forexample, a desk or table with the frame being diagonally alignedrelative to the supporting surface. The spaced parallel sides of thesupport member, while firmly embracing the transparent member, enablequick removal and replacement of the solid transparent member whether bylifting the transparent member directly away from the support member orby sliding the transparent member sidewise out of an embracing positionbetween the spaced parallel sides of the support member.

The remaining spaced parallel sides of the support frame positionedbetween the spaced parallel sides of the support member which embracethe transparent member are provided with small grooves for receiving andpositioning the picture mounted therein so as to completely conceal theedges ofthe' 4 picture when the frame is in the fully assembled'state.

The mass of the transparent member is many times greater than the massof the support member so that the transparent member is predominantlydeterminative of the center of gravity of the frame when fullyassembled. The design of the support member relative to the transparentmember is such that the center of gravity lies substantially directlyabove and is centrally located relative to the particular surfaceproviding support for the frame when supported upon a horizontal surfacesuch as'a desk or table in either the vertically upright position or thediagonal position. Obviously the frame may be placed on its rear surfaceso as to be utilized as a combination picture frame and paper weight, ifdesired.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a novelframe assembly for photographs, pictures and the like which is designedto be wall mounted or supported in a variety of positions upon ahorizontal surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel two-pieceframe assembly for use in mounting pictures, photographs and the likeand being comprised of a support member embracing a solid transparentmember of appreciable thickness in such a manner as to facilitate simpleremoval and replacement of the picture and transparent member.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelframe assembly for use in mounting photographs, pictures and the likecomprised of a solid transparent member of substantial thickness and alightweight supporting member designed to support the frame whenassembled either on its back, directly upright or diagonally alignedrelative to a horizontalsupporting surface wherein the center of gravityof the frame when fully assembled lies immediately above the surface ofthe frame assembly coming into contact with the vertical supportingsurface which supports the frame.

These as well as other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings inwhich: I

FIG. l is a perspective view showing the elements of the frame of thepresent invention in an exploded view.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame shown in FIG. 1 in fullyassembled fashion.

FIG. 3a shows a side view of the frame of FIGS. 1 and 2 being supportedupon a horizontal surface.

FIG. 3b shows another side view of the assembly of the FIGS. 1 and 2being diagonally aligned upon a horizontal supporting surface.

FIG. 30 shows a sectional view of the assembly of the FIG. 3a looking inthe direction of arrows 3c-3c.

FIGS. 3d and 3e are rear and front elevational views, respectively, ofthe frame portion as shown in FIG. 1.

The frame of the present invention, making reference to all of the FIGS,is a two-piece assembly 10 comprised in turn, of a solid,rectangular-shaped transparent member 11 having substantial thickness,and a support member 12 made of a lightweight material preferablyplastic. The support frame 12 is preferably opaque and may be of anydesired color.

The support frame 12 is a one-piece member comprised of a substantiallyflat and rigid backing member 13 serving as the backing for thephotograph, picture and the like, in a manner to be more fullydescribed. The backing portion 13 which is substantially rectangular inshape (and may, in fact, be substantially square in shape, if desired)is integrally joined with four rearwardly directed sides 14-16,respectively, which, in turn, are integrally joined with four diagonallyaligned and forwardly directed sides l821, respectively. Two of the fourdiagonally aligned sides, namely sides 18 and 20, are integrally joinedto spaced parallel sides 22 and 23, respectively. Adjacent diagonallyaligned sides are integrally joined along their adjacent edges atvertices 24.

The transparent member 11 in the preferred embodiment shown in thedrawings is a solid parallelepiped formed of a clear plastic materialsuch as, for example, Plexiglas. When assembled with the support member,two opposite parallel sides 28 and 29 are arranged to be rather firmlyembraced by sides 22 and 23 respectively, of the support member, asshown best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3a. The thickness T of the transparentmember 11 is substantially equal to the length of each of the sides 22and 23 when measured along their interior surfaces so that the frontface 30 of the transparent member is substantially flush with the edgesof sides 22 and 23. A picture, photograph or other like work of artportrayed on a sheet is sandwiched between the rear face 31 oftransparent member 11 andthe front face l3r of backing member 13.

The forward edges of diagonally aligned sides and 21 are provided withsmall flanges 20a and 21a which are designed to frame the adjacentmarginal edges of picture 32 so as to completely conceal the picturemounted between backing plate 13 and transparent member 11 when theframe is fully assembled as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3c.

The characteristic of the transparent member of Plexicube 11 causes thepicture to appear to be pulled toward the front face 30 of thetransparent member due to its high index of refraction thereby providingan even and solid framing for the picture. The optical characteristic ofthe transparent member also prevents viewing from the picture along thetwo sides 33 and 34 of the transparent member which extend between thesides 22 and 23 of the support member, thus creating the rather uniqueoptical characteristic of appearing to contain no pictorial materialwithin the assembled frame.

The frame may be placed upon a desk, table or other horizontal surfacein an upright position on any one of its four sides or alternatively itmay stand at an angle being supported on any one of its diagonallyaligned sides. In addition thereto, the assembled frame may be alignedhorizontally with its back surface resting upon a horizontal surface oralternatively the frame assembly may be hung upon a wall. The center ofgravity of the assembled frame is substantially the center of gravity ofthe transparent member which is approximately six times greater inweight than the lightweight support member. FIG. 3a shows the framestanding upright upon a horizontal surface 35. The center of gravity isindicated as the point 36 which can be seen to be directly above side 23acting as the supporting surface and which further can be seen to liealong an imaginary vertical line 37 which lies substantially midwaybetween the ends of side 23 enabling the frame to stand upright withouttoppling. Obviously, the frame may be stood upright by placing theopposite parallel side 22 upon surface 35. As a further alternative, theframe may stand upright with either of the two exposed surfaces 33 and34 of transparent member 11 resting upon the support surface. Obviously,in the same manner as described with regard to FIG. 3a, the center ofgravity of the assembled frame will lie directly above the side (either33 or 34) of the transparent member resting on the horizontal surfaceand being substantially equidistant from the opposite edges of theabove-mentioned side (33 or 34). v

The assembled frame may further be placed upon a horizontal supportingsurface so as to be aligned diagonally relative to the supportingsurface by having any one of the four diagonally aligned sides 18-21resting upon the horizontal supporting surface. FIG. 3 shows theassembled frame diagonally aligned upon a supporting surface 35 whereinthe assembled frame is resting upon diagonally aligned side 21.Obviously, any of the three remaining diagonally aligned sides may bearranged to rest upon the horizontal supporting surface and thedescription of the weight distribution for the arrangement of FIG. 3bapplies in equal measure to any of the other diagonal alignmentspossible. As shown in FIG. 3b, the center of gravity 36 lies directlyabove side 21 and further lies along an imaginary straight line 38 whichintersects side 21 at a point 38a which is substantially equidistantfrom the edges of diagonally aligned side 21. Thus, the frame, whenstood at an angle upon a supporting surface will firmly remain in thisposition without toppling due to the unique relationship of the centerof gravity of the assembled frame relative to the surface of the framewhich rests upon the horizontal supporting sur- 7 face.

The frame may obviously be placed upon a horizontal surface with thefront face 30 of transparent member 11 being aror screw 40 may be driveninto a vertical support surface or wall 41. Side 16 of the assembledframe, shown in FIG. 3c, rests upon and is supported by fastening member40. To simplify the balancing of the frame upon the wall, a pair offastening members of the type 40 may be driven into the wall 41, ifdesired.

Assembly and disassembly of frame may be performed quite simply bygrasping exposed sides 33 and 34 of the transparent member 11 with thefingers of one hand and by grasping the support member 12 with the otherhand and lifting the transparent member away from the support member inthe direction shown by arrow 42 in FIG. 3a. The picture, photograph orthe like may then be placed against the front face of backing member 13and centered between sides 22 and 23 and flanges 20a and 21a. Thetransparent member may then be replaced by pressing the transparentmember between sides 22 and 23 and moving the transparent member in adirection shown by arrow 43 of FIG. 3a relative to support member 12. Bypressing the transparent member 11 firmly against support member 12 inthe direction shown by arrow 43, the transparent member will be causedto snap" into position between sides 22 and 23 and flanges 20a and 21aso as to completely conceal the picture 32 within the assembled frame.

As an alternative method, the transparent member 11 may be removed fromsupport member 12 by pressing one exposed side (33 or 34) in a directionshown by arrow 44 of FIG. 3b, causing the transparent member 11 to movein the direction of arrow 44 relative to support member 12 so as toremove the transparent member from the assembled frame. A photograph maythen be positioned within the support member in the same manner aspreviously described and the transparent member may be replaced eitherby pressing the transparent member into the support member in thedirection shown by arrow 43 or by sliding the transparent membersidewise relative to support member 12, as shown in FIG. 3b.

The frame assembly described herein may be either square or rectangularand may be of any dimension compatible with either standard size orspecial size photographs, prints and the like.

It can be seen from the foregoing description and drawings that thepresent invention provides a novel frame assembly for use with pictures,photographs and the like which is simple to assemble and disassemble, isquite versatile either in that it may be either hung upon a wall orplaced upon a horizontal supporting surface in a variety of differentpositions without any danger of toppling and which totally conceals apicture or photograph therein without the need for any fastening meanswhatsoever. The unique configure of the frame reduces the number ofcomponents of the frame as compared with conventional picture frames aswell as providing a unique configuration which may rest upon asupporting surface in a variety of different positions and angleswithout requiring a hinged supporting member as is normally employed inconventional desk frames.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novelinvention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited,not by the specific disclosure herein, butonly by the appending claims.

I claim:

1. A frame for photographs, pictures and the like comprismg atransparent member, said member having a parallelepiped configuration:

a support member having a substantially planar forward surface;

a pair of spaced parallel sides projecting outwardly from said forwardsurface for removably receiving and embracing two opposite sides of saidtransparent member leaving the remaining two sides of said transparentmember exposed;

said forward surface being adapted to cooperate with an ad- I jacentsurface of said transparent member for retaining'a picture therebetween;l

said support member having at least one surface along its rearward sidewhich is diagonally aligned relative to said forward surface and isadapted to rest upon a horizontal support surface for aligning saidframe in a diagonal fashion relative to said support surface;

said one surface extending between said forward surface and saidrearward side and being adapted to support the side surface of saidtransparent member closest to said supporting surface above anddiagonally aligned relative to the supporting surface.

2. The frame of claim 1 wherein the weight of said transparent member isat least two times as great as the weight of said support frame to placethe centerof gravity substantially along the perpendicular bisector ofsaid diagonally aligned surface enabling the frame to be diagonallysupported upon said support surface without toppling.

3. The frame of claim 1 wherein the rear surface of said support memberis provided with a recess adapted to receive suitable fastening meanswhich is driven into a wall mounting of said frame upon a wall.

4. The frame of claim 1 wherein the weight of said transparent member issubstantially greater than the weight of said support member and ispreferably at least twice the weight of said support member; to placethe center of gravity of the assembled frame substantially along theperpendicular bisector of any of the sides of said support member andsaid exposed sides of said transparent member enabling any one of theexposed sides of said transparent member and the pair of sides of saidsupport member to rest upon a horizontal support surface to finnlysupport said frame at a right angleto the support surface withouttoppling.

5. A frame for photographs, pictures and the like comprismg atransparent member, said member having a parallelepiped configuration;

a support member having a substantially planar forward surface; a .pairof spaced parallel sides projecting outwardly from said forward surfacefor removably receiving and embracing two opposite sides of saidtransparent member leaving the remaining two sides of said transparentmember exposed;

said forward surface being adapted to cooperate with an adjacent surfaceof said transparent member for retaining a picture therebetween;

said support member having first, second, third and fourth surfacesalong its rearward side which are diagonally aligned relative to saidforward surfaces and are each adapted to rest upon a horizontal supportsurface for aligning said frame in a diagonal fashion relative to saidsupport surface.

6. The frame of claim 5 wherein the weight of said transparent member isat least two times as great as the weight of said support frame to placethe center of gravity substantially along the perpendicular bisector ofeach of said diagonally aligned surfaces enabling the frame to bediagonally supported upon said support surface without toppling.

7. The frame assembly of claim 5 wherein the forward facing edges of twoof said diagonally aligned sides each extend between the extreme leftandright-hand ends respectively of said pair of spaced parallel sides whichare integrally joined to the forward facing edges of associated ones ofthe remaining diagonally aligned sides;

the forward facing edges of said two diagonally aligned sides each beingprovided with a flange extending slightly above its forward facingsurface and aligned along the outer side of said edge for framingpicture placed upon said forward surface and concealing the adjacentedge of the picture when said frame is assembled.

8. The frame of claim 7 wherein the forward facing edges of the saidremaining diagonally aligned surfaces are each of a thickness greaterthan the thickness of the associated one of said parallel sidesintegrally joined thereto to form a shoulder for supporting the adjacentmarginal edge of a tpicture and thereby prevent the sheet containing thepicture rom curling or become distorted.

1. A frame for photographs, pictures and the like comprising atransparent member, said member having a parallelepiped configuration: asupport member having a substantially planar forward surface; a pair ofspaced parallel sides projecting outwardly from said forward surface forremovably receiving and embracing two opposite sides of said transparentmember leaving the remaining two sides of said transparent memberexposed; said forward surface being adapted to cooperate with anadjacent surface of said transparent member for retaining a picturetherebetween; said support member having at least one surface along itsrearward side which is diagonally aligned relative to said forwardsurface and is adapted to rest upon a horizontal support surface foraligning said frame in a diagonal fashion relative to said supportsurface; said one surface extending between said forward surface andsaid rearward side and being adapted to support the side surface of saidtransparent member closest to said supporting surface above anddiagonally aligned relative to the supporting surface.
 2. The frame ofclaim 1 wherein the weight of said transparent member is at least twotimes as great as the weight of said support frame to place the centerof gravity substantially along the perpendicular bisector of saiddiagonally aligned surface enabling the frame to be diagonally supportedupon said support surface without toppling.
 3. The frame of claim 1wherein the rear surface of said support member is provided with arecess adapted to receive suitable fastening means which is driven intoa wall mounting of said frame upon a wall.
 4. The frame of claim 1wherein the weight of said transparent member is substantially greaterthan the weight of said support member and is preferably at least twicethe weight of said support member; to place the center of gravity of theassembled frame substantially along the perpendicular bisector of any ofthe sides of said support member and said exposed sides of saidtransparent member enabling any one of the exposed sides of saidtransparent member and the pair of sides of said support member to restupon a horiZontal support surface to firmly support said frame at aright angle to the support surface without toppling.
 5. A frame forphotographs, pictures and the like comprising a transparent member, saidmember having a parallelepiped configuration; a support member having asubstantially planar forward surface; a pair of spaced parallel sidesprojecting outwardly from said forward surface for removably receivingand embracing two opposite sides of said transparent member leaving theremaining two sides of said transparent member exposed; said forwardsurface being adapted to cooperate with an adjacent surface of saidtransparent member for retaining a picture therebetween; said supportmember having first, second, third and fourth surfaces along itsrearward side which are diagonally aligned relative to said forwardsurfaces and are each adapted to rest upon a horizontal support surfacefor aligning said frame in a diagonal fashion relative to said supportsurface.
 6. The frame of claim 5 wherein the weight of said transparentmember is at least two times as great as the weight of said supportframe to place the center of gravity substantially along theperpendicular bisector of each of said diagonally aligned surfacesenabling the frame to be diagonally supported upon said support surfacewithout toppling.
 7. The frame assembly of claim 5 wherein the forwardfacing edges of two of said diagonally aligned sides each extend betweenthe extreme left- and right-hand ends respectively of said pair ofspaced parallel sides which are integrally joined to the forward facingedges of associated ones of the remaining diagonally aligned sides; theforward facing edges of said two diagonally aligned sides each beingprovided with a flange extending slightly above its forward facingsurface and aligned along the outer side of said edge for framingpicture placed upon said forward surface and concealing the adjacentedge of the picture when said frame is assembled.
 8. The frame of claim7 wherein the forward facing edges of the said remaining diagonallyaligned surfaces are each of a thickness greater than the thickness ofthe associated one of said parallel sides integrally joined thereto toform a shoulder for supporting the adjacent marginal edge of a pictureand thereby prevent the sheet containing the picture from curling orbecome distorted.